The experience I was waiting for since the beginning of my EVS started on the 15th of July. I knew it was going to be tough and that it would get me out of my comfort zone and I was ready for the adventure. And it was adventurous, indeed!
I dedicated a whole paragraph for describing this course, because it was an experience that changed my life and made me love Outward Bound even more.
The first day started easy, with describing ourselves, our expectations and reasons why we chose this course. We were 10 people, aged from 15 to 29, so a big age gap between us, which could have been a problem, but we later realized that age does not matter when everyone is motivated and ready to involve themselves. We got to know each-other, we had an introduction about OB history, about what we were going to do during the course and we had 2 workshops about building a bivouac and making knots. It was the first time for me when I actually had to build it myself, and I knew how it should look like, but then the instructors tied my hands and told me that I can not touch anything, but direct the process of building. It was a bit complicated, since I am more of a "doer" than just a teller, but after a few failed attempts, we did it and I was proud of myself. We later had to make a list of the food we were going to buy for the whole expedition. We had a limited budget and time, so we had to think fast about what food to bring, in order to be tasty, not so heavy and not to go bad easily. Also, we had a vegetarian among us, so we had to think about her, too. In the end, the list was made, the food was bought and we made a campfire and we had dinner outside. The day ended with revealing our expectations and fears, around the fire. It was a good day.
In the morning of the second day, we did yoga and meditation, to get our bodies and minds ready for the adventure. The instructors taught us how to use the compasses and the map to orientate, we gave each-other nicknames based on our main strengths and then we left the house and we started the expedition. After a couple of hours on the road, we got to a cave to which I had been before in the previous expeditions, but I never abseiled into it, like we did this time. The drop was fun and easy, but quite short, so you have to really enjoy the moment and stay focused. The best moments from the cave were when we had a 5-minute silence time, to listen to the water drops and our inner thoughts and when we started singing opera, because the acoustics were really good and they gave a nice echo. I enjoyed those moments :)
In the evening I went rock climbing for the first time, on a 30 m rock called Čelina. It was a bit tougher than I thought it would be, but I managed to climb both routes available and to rappel back down. The view from the top of the rock was amazing and quite scary. The trees, the mountains and the clouds were so beautiful, and I could enjoy them, being attached to a rope 30 m high in the air. What could be better than that?
On the third day we did 27 km of hiking. Yes, 27 km! It was a long journey and the landscape was constantly changing. It started with a jungle-like forest, with 2 m high ferns and thorn bushes where we lost the road, but then we asked some locals and they showed us the way. The trip was tough because the sun was constantly in our faces and it was extremely hot and tiring, wearing those heavy backpacks in the sun. Walking seemed to never end and by the end of the day I was so tired that I actually felt happy, energetic and I couldn't feel my backpack as heavy anymore. But that boost of energy didn't last long, because as soon as we got to the camp where the fire was waiting for us, after having dinner and building our bivouacs, I instantly fell asleep.
The fourth day was an easier one because we only did 10 km of hiking and we had time to relax at a mountain hut. Our backpacks were refilled with the rest of the food we had bought, I took an amazingly relaxing shower with water from a well and we gave each-other feedback about our behavior, performance, skills and attitude during the previous days, which was encouraging for me, since the feedback I received was positive :) We were split in 2 groups and we had a competition of lighting a fire with a fire steel in 10 minutes, but none of the teams managed to light the fire up in that time. It was harder than it seemed, but practice makes perfect and I was the only one from my team who started the fire. I felt awesome!
Day 5 started with a simulation in which one of us had broken his leg and so we had to build a stretcher and carry him to the ambulance. Building the stretcher went well, we had instructions on how to do it, but carrying an 80-kg guy on a narrow, inclined and rocky path was not efficient or easy at all. Me and one of the strongest guys in the group managed to carry the "injured" one for a few hundred meters, and we thought we actually will carry him through the woods and on the mountain, but Kalu, one of the instructors stopped us and we reflected on the experience. It prepared us for possible future accidents, because it taught us what we should do, but it also made us realize how important it is to take care of our bodies, to care for each-other and react fast in emergency situations. We did some rock-climbing and zip lining, which were awesome and then we set foot to a long and tough hiking on some steep and boiling hot paths through the mountains. The destination was worth all the effort, though. We climbed one of the highest peaks in Middle Velebit Mountains, called Bačič Kuk. From the peak I saw the sea for the first time in my life and it looked so splendid that I could just shout out of joy. The altitude, the steep rocks, the view of the sea and the wind blowing and cooling us down gave me an unforgettable memory. It was one of the best moments in my life and I could not be more grateful to God and to Outward Bound that I got to enjoy such beauty. We descended the mountain and we camped in a forest, not far from the sea.
On day 6 we had our solo in the forest, for about 7 hours. It was the perfect time to sit down in silence, away from any form of human contact, just me and myself and to evaluate my life. I thought about my life before the EVS started and how I developed since then and about the whole experience of the course. I found my inner peace, right there in the forest, I took some important decisions and I wrote a letter to my future self, after 6 months. It was a peaceful day and I was looking forward to the last part of the course, going to the seaside and diving!
Diving into the sea was so amazing, not only because I had never done it before and that I hadn't been to the seaside before, but also because I do not feel comfortable in the water, especially to dive into it. But I did it! I was actually surprised of how little time it took me to get used to breathing underwater with the scuba suit and how safe I felt in the depth. The water was so clear and cool and seeing all the fish and corals and dunes was just breathtaking! - you got it? breathtaking xD Anyway, after the swim, we sunbathed and then we went back to the center to unpack, to get our diplomas, to have the final feedback and evaluation.
I can say that this course changed my life because it really got me out of the comfort zone, it showed me that I can do things I never thought I would or I could, it made me love nature and adventure even more and it motivated me to do my best to become an Outward Bound instructor and to show to others that there is more in them than they think.
I dedicated a whole paragraph for describing this course, because it was an experience that changed my life and made me love Outward Bound even more.
The first day started easy, with describing ourselves, our expectations and reasons why we chose this course. We were 10 people, aged from 15 to 29, so a big age gap between us, which could have been a problem, but we later realized that age does not matter when everyone is motivated and ready to involve themselves. We got to know each-other, we had an introduction about OB history, about what we were going to do during the course and we had 2 workshops about building a bivouac and making knots. It was the first time for me when I actually had to build it myself, and I knew how it should look like, but then the instructors tied my hands and told me that I can not touch anything, but direct the process of building. It was a bit complicated, since I am more of a "doer" than just a teller, but after a few failed attempts, we did it and I was proud of myself. We later had to make a list of the food we were going to buy for the whole expedition. We had a limited budget and time, so we had to think fast about what food to bring, in order to be tasty, not so heavy and not to go bad easily. Also, we had a vegetarian among us, so we had to think about her, too. In the end, the list was made, the food was bought and we made a campfire and we had dinner outside. The day ended with revealing our expectations and fears, around the fire. It was a good day.
In the morning of the second day, we did yoga and meditation, to get our bodies and minds ready for the adventure. The instructors taught us how to use the compasses and the map to orientate, we gave each-other nicknames based on our main strengths and then we left the house and we started the expedition. After a couple of hours on the road, we got to a cave to which I had been before in the previous expeditions, but I never abseiled into it, like we did this time. The drop was fun and easy, but quite short, so you have to really enjoy the moment and stay focused. The best moments from the cave were when we had a 5-minute silence time, to listen to the water drops and our inner thoughts and when we started singing opera, because the acoustics were really good and they gave a nice echo. I enjoyed those moments :)
In the evening I went rock climbing for the first time, on a 30 m rock called Čelina. It was a bit tougher than I thought it would be, but I managed to climb both routes available and to rappel back down. The view from the top of the rock was amazing and quite scary. The trees, the mountains and the clouds were so beautiful, and I could enjoy them, being attached to a rope 30 m high in the air. What could be better than that?
On the third day we did 27 km of hiking. Yes, 27 km! It was a long journey and the landscape was constantly changing. It started with a jungle-like forest, with 2 m high ferns and thorn bushes where we lost the road, but then we asked some locals and they showed us the way. The trip was tough because the sun was constantly in our faces and it was extremely hot and tiring, wearing those heavy backpacks in the sun. Walking seemed to never end and by the end of the day I was so tired that I actually felt happy, energetic and I couldn't feel my backpack as heavy anymore. But that boost of energy didn't last long, because as soon as we got to the camp where the fire was waiting for us, after having dinner and building our bivouacs, I instantly fell asleep.
The fourth day was an easier one because we only did 10 km of hiking and we had time to relax at a mountain hut. Our backpacks were refilled with the rest of the food we had bought, I took an amazingly relaxing shower with water from a well and we gave each-other feedback about our behavior, performance, skills and attitude during the previous days, which was encouraging for me, since the feedback I received was positive :) We were split in 2 groups and we had a competition of lighting a fire with a fire steel in 10 minutes, but none of the teams managed to light the fire up in that time. It was harder than it seemed, but practice makes perfect and I was the only one from my team who started the fire. I felt awesome!
Day 5 started with a simulation in which one of us had broken his leg and so we had to build a stretcher and carry him to the ambulance. Building the stretcher went well, we had instructions on how to do it, but carrying an 80-kg guy on a narrow, inclined and rocky path was not efficient or easy at all. Me and one of the strongest guys in the group managed to carry the "injured" one for a few hundred meters, and we thought we actually will carry him through the woods and on the mountain, but Kalu, one of the instructors stopped us and we reflected on the experience. It prepared us for possible future accidents, because it taught us what we should do, but it also made us realize how important it is to take care of our bodies, to care for each-other and react fast in emergency situations. We did some rock-climbing and zip lining, which were awesome and then we set foot to a long and tough hiking on some steep and boiling hot paths through the mountains. The destination was worth all the effort, though. We climbed one of the highest peaks in Middle Velebit Mountains, called Bačič Kuk. From the peak I saw the sea for the first time in my life and it looked so splendid that I could just shout out of joy. The altitude, the steep rocks, the view of the sea and the wind blowing and cooling us down gave me an unforgettable memory. It was one of the best moments in my life and I could not be more grateful to God and to Outward Bound that I got to enjoy such beauty. We descended the mountain and we camped in a forest, not far from the sea.
On day 6 we had our solo in the forest, for about 7 hours. It was the perfect time to sit down in silence, away from any form of human contact, just me and myself and to evaluate my life. I thought about my life before the EVS started and how I developed since then and about the whole experience of the course. I found my inner peace, right there in the forest, I took some important decisions and I wrote a letter to my future self, after 6 months. It was a peaceful day and I was looking forward to the last part of the course, going to the seaside and diving!
Diving into the sea was so amazing, not only because I had never done it before and that I hadn't been to the seaside before, but also because I do not feel comfortable in the water, especially to dive into it. But I did it! I was actually surprised of how little time it took me to get used to breathing underwater with the scuba suit and how safe I felt in the depth. The water was so clear and cool and seeing all the fish and corals and dunes was just breathtaking! - you got it? breathtaking xD Anyway, after the swim, we sunbathed and then we went back to the center to unpack, to get our diplomas, to have the final feedback and evaluation.
I can say that this course changed my life because it really got me out of the comfort zone, it showed me that I can do things I never thought I would or I could, it made me love nature and adventure even more and it motivated me to do my best to become an Outward Bound instructor and to show to others that there is more in them than they think.